Luteolin is a flavonoid best known for its potential anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antioxidant properties. It's naturally found in foods like celery and parsley. Still, it's most commonly taken as a dietary supplement as it provides a consistently high dose of the natural compound you can't get from diet alone.
We want to preface this article by highlighting that luteolin isn't a drug — which means it's not meant to cure, treat, or mitigate diseases.
That being said, we wanted to highlight some of the research on luteolin benefits and its potential applications in wellness. This article isn't meant to replace the advice from a healthcare professional but is purely for educational purposes only.
So, with that out of the way, let's get into the top luteolin benefits.
Anti-Inflammatory Potential
Research demonstrates luteolin's potential to calm down inflammation in the body by blocking molecules like TNF-α and IL-6 that send signals to cause inflammation [1]. By stopping these signals, luteolin may help the immune system stay balanced and keep inflammation under control.
For this reason, people use luteolin supplements to support a healthy inflammatory response.
Anti-Cancer Research
Scientists believe that luteolin shows promise in cancer research by causing cancer and tumor cells to self-destruct (apoptosis) and blocking their ability to divide (cell proliferation) [2]. This could prevent tumors from spreading and forming new blood vessels, which they need to grow.
Researchers are exploring how luteolin works in the body and how it might help make cancer treatments more effective, but this research is still very much in the early stages.
Anti-Viral Research
In lab and animal studies, luteolin stopped the pseudorabies virus (PRV) — a virus that causes serious illness in pigs and may cause brain infections in humans — from multiplying. In this same study, it was observed that luteolin lowered inflammation and damage caused by the virus [3].
This research shows that luteolin might help fight against certain viruses, and scientists can use this information to learn more about how luteolin works and its potential applications in medicine. However, luteolin supplements aren't meant to treat or stop viruses.
Brain Health
Luteolin is believed to support brain health by acting as a neuroprotective compound [4]. This is the top reason why people take luteolin supplements.
Studies suggest that luteolin can lower oxidative stress, which happens when harmful molecules build up in the body, making the brain work less well as you age. Taking luteolin could help with memory and better overall cognitive function.
Liver Health
Studies show that luteolin can help protect liver cells by stopping them from dying too quickly [5]. It does this by keeping the right balance between proteins that protect the cells and proteins that can harm them, which is why it's currently being investigated as a potential hepatoprotective (liver-protective) drug.
Does Luteolin Help With Weight Loss?
There isn’t strong evidence to support luteolin as a direct aid for weight loss, so it's not considered a weight management supplement.
Its antioxidant and immune supporting potential may contribute to overall wellness, indirectly affecting weight goals, but we couldn't find a direct link between luteolin and significant weight loss.
Clinical Applications and Future Perspectives
Research shows luteolin has the potential to manage problems like long-term inflammation, oxidative stress, and conditions that affect the brain as people age.
These are big areas of study because they’re linked to a lot of health issues. That being said, there's still a lot more we need to understand about luteolin in humans and most of this research is just getting started. We need to see more human clinical trials to better understand how well it works and ensure it's safe for these long-term uses.
Why Luteolin Supplements Are a Good Idea
Luteolin-rich foods are a great start, but luteolin supplements provide a concentrated and consistent dose to maximize potential benefits. A high-quality luteolin supplement can support the following:
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Immune Health: By supporting healthy inflammation and oxidative stress.
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Cognitive Function: Through neuroprotective effects.
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Heart and Liver Health: By promoting cellular protection and function.
When choosing a luteolin supplement, look for products backed by third-party testing to ensure purity and potency. All Neurogan Health supplements are tested in-house and by third-party labs to meet our high standards for quality.
Resources:
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Aziz, N., Kim, M. Y., & Cho, J. Y. (2018). Anti-inflammatory effects of luteolin: A review of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 225, 342-358.
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Singh Tuli, H., Rath, P., Chauhan, A., Sak, K., Aggarwal, D., Choudhary, R., ... & Haque, S. (2022). Luteolin, a potent anticancer compound: from chemistry to cellular interactions and synergetic perspectives. Cancers, 14(21), 5373.
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Men, X., Li, S., Cai, X., Fu, L., Shao, Y., & Zhu, Y. (2023). Antiviral activity of luteolin against pseudorabies virus in vitro and in vivo. Animals, 13(4), 761.
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Burton, M. D., Rytych, J. L., Amin, R., & Johnson, R. W. (2016). Dietary luteolin reduces proinflammatory microglia in the brain of senescent mice. Rejuvenation research, 19(4), 286-292.
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Yao, C., Dai, S., Wang, C., Fu, K., Wu, R., Zhao, X., ... & Li, Y. (2023). Luteolin as a potential hepatoprotective drug: Molecular mechanisms and treatment strategies. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 167, 115464.
